About this page:
This index provides guidance for using Microsoft (MS) Teams in your studies. For video conferencing information, see Teams meetings.
Please note:
- Students cannot request a Team, however, staff can request a Team for student collaboration (for example; group work, project work, events and societies).
- Some of the following links point to Microsoft’s own Teams help & learning. In some cases, features listed on the official Microsoft support site may not currently be available for university Teams accounts.
- Microsoft is frequently improving Teams, so the exact functionality described in our own guides may have changed. If you spot guides which need to be updated, please alert us by logging a ticket through the Service Desk.
What is Teams?
Teams is an online collaboration tool from Microsoft, that integrates with your Microsoft 365 account. If a member of staff has provided you with access to a Team, you will receive an email notification containing a link to access the Team. If you have been given access to multiple Teams, see the Teams dashboard for an overview of all Teams you can access (screenshot example below).
Example of a Teams dashboard:
What can I use Teams for?
Essentially, a team is made up of ‘channels‘ in which you can:
- Post chat messages and have conversations,
- Store and share links, images and files,
- Hold meetings and presentations in Team Channels,
- Be notified about activity occurring within the Team.
Use via your device browser, install the app or download the Teams mobile app (sign-in with university email).
Where Teams is used for teaching and learning, Blackboard (or Canvas) remains the central hub for the delivery of:
- Core learning content
- Essential academic module communications
- Summative assessment submission and feedback
- Copyrighted materials, for example, scanned articles made available in the Online Reading List (Talis)
How do I request a Team for group/project work or for an event/society?
University staff can request a new Team on behalf of students, please contact the member of staff related to your request (i.e. lecturer).
How do I access Teams?
If a member of staff has provided you with access to a Team, you can download the Teams app.
Other useful resources:
- Quick video tour to get started with Microsoft Teams
- LinkedIn Learning provides online courses e.g. Microsoft Teams Essential Training and How to make the most out of Microsoft Teams.
Need help? If you need support please use IT Self Service Portal to contact us.
Guide last updated on November 28, 2022
